Life span: 07/31/1816 to 03/28/1870TabsLife SummaryFull name: George Henry ThomasPlace of Birth: Southampton County, VABurial Place: Troy, NYBirth Date Certainty: ExactDeath Date Certainty: ExactGender: MaleRace: WhiteSectional choice: NorthOrigins: Slave StateNo. of Siblings: 5No. of Spouses: 1Family: John Thomas (father), Elizabeth Rochelle Thomas (mother), Frances Lucretia Kellogg (wife)Education: West Point (US Military Academy)Occupation: MilitaryRelation to Slavery: Slaveholder who freed slavesMilitary: US military (Pre-Civil War)Union ArmyUS military (Post-Civil War) Note Cards George Henry Thomas (American National Biography) ScholarshipAlthough promoted to major general in the regular army on 15 December 1864 and bestowed the official thanks of Congress on 3 March 1865, Thomas ended his war career with bitter feelings toward the army because of the grudging manner in which he had been treated and the slowness of his promotions. It is possible that President Andrew Johnson wanted to replace Grant with Thomas when he offered the latter the brevet ranks of lieutenant general and general in 1868. Regardless of Johnson's intentions, Thomas declined, saying it was now too late to reward him for his war service. For four years, beginning in 1865, Thomas held garrison and departmental commands at Nashville and Louisville. In 1869, at his request, Thomas took command of the Military Division of the Pacific, but soon after arriving he died of a stroke in San Francisco while replying to a published criticism of his conduct at Nashville. Although admired by his men for his careful approach to battle, Thomas was perceived by Grant and others as sluggish and incapable of conducting a vigorous offensive campaign. Though unappreciated, his genius was on the defensive, where his slow, stubborn refusal to yield were attributes rather than hindrances. Herman Hattaway and Michael D. Smith, "Thomas, George Henry," American National Biography Online, February 2000, http://www.anb.org/articles/04/04-00983.html. Events Date span begin Life span End Event 01/19/1862 01/19/1862 In eastern Kentucky, Union forces defeat Confederate troops at Mill Spring 09/18/1863 09/20/1863 In Georgia, advancing Union forces suffer a very heavy defeat near Chickamauga Creek 06/27/1864 06/27/1864 In Georgia, Sherman's direct assault on Confederate positions on Kennesaw Mountain fails with heavy losses 09/28/1867 09/28/1867 During a dispute between state and local authorities, federal troops keep the peace in Nashville city elections. Major TopicsMexican WarSherman's March Reconstruction Documents Author Docs Date Title 07/21/1865 George H. Thomas, General Order No. 9, Nashville, Tennessee, July 21, 1865 Subject Docs Date Title 01/22/1862 Edwin M. Stanton, Order to the Army with President Lincoln's congratulations on recent victory in Kentucky, January 22, 1862 Addressee Docs Date Title 01/27/1862 Colonel Robert Latimer McCook to Brigadier-General George Henry Thomas, Report on Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky, January 27, 1862 Images George Henry Thomas George Henry Thomas, detail Bibliography
George Henry Thomas (American National Biography) ScholarshipAlthough promoted to major general in the regular army on 15 December 1864 and bestowed the official thanks of Congress on 3 March 1865, Thomas ended his war career with bitter feelings toward the army because of the grudging manner in which he had been treated and the slowness of his promotions. It is possible that President Andrew Johnson wanted to replace Grant with Thomas when he offered the latter the brevet ranks of lieutenant general and general in 1868. Regardless of Johnson's intentions, Thomas declined, saying it was now too late to reward him for his war service. For four years, beginning in 1865, Thomas held garrison and departmental commands at Nashville and Louisville. In 1869, at his request, Thomas took command of the Military Division of the Pacific, but soon after arriving he died of a stroke in San Francisco while replying to a published criticism of his conduct at Nashville. Although admired by his men for his careful approach to battle, Thomas was perceived by Grant and others as sluggish and incapable of conducting a vigorous offensive campaign. Though unappreciated, his genius was on the defensive, where his slow, stubborn refusal to yield were attributes rather than hindrances. Herman Hattaway and Michael D. Smith, "Thomas, George Henry," American National Biography Online, February 2000, http://www.anb.org/articles/04/04-00983.html.